Breanna Berrington with Mr. Guicci.
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Erin Berrington with Patches.
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On January 15th and 16th, Breanna and Erin Berrington of the Piru 4-H club attended the 22nd Annual Sierra Winter Classic Steer and Heifer Jackpot Show in Porterville, California. A jackpot show is another opportunity for kids who are raising animals for the Ventura County Fair to show their project animals. Instead of auctioning off the animals, they have the opportunity to win buckles, feed, show equipment, and money.

Breanna’s steer Mr. Gucci, weighed in at 782 pounds, and was entered in the Prospect Market Steer Division. She placed 3rd overall in her class. In Intermediate showmanship (ages 13 to 15), Breanna placed 3rd overall out of 48 other showmen. This is Breanna’s second year raising a market steer.

Erin’s heifer Patches weighed in at 502 pounds, and was entered in the Grade Heifer Division. This is Erin’s first year in 4-H, and her first time entering a show ring. Erin placed first in her market class and had the chance to compete for Supreme Champion. In showmanship, Erin was entered into the Junior Division (ages 9 – 12) and walked away with 2nd place out of 15 other showman!

For these two girls, it was their first jackpot show of the season. Breanna and Erin received valuable instruction and feedback from the judges as they gear up for more competitive livestock shows this spring. The next show they plan on attending is Cal Poly’s 2011 Western Bonzana Junior Livestock Show held in Paso Robles. Breanna and Erin would like to thank Randy Silva and Family of Silva Cattle for their commitment in helping them prepare for the jackpot shows.

Fillmore High Alumni Association

I’m turning 100 years old on March 23, 2011 and I’d like to share some childhood memories of my times in the Fillmore schools. Because of a series of childhood illnesses, I was eight when I entered the old grammar school on Mountain View St. My first teacher was Miss Arthur. The principal, Mr. Horton, often visited our classroom during the day. The reason: He was courting Miss Arthur!

When I first started school at the age of eight, I began in low first grade, but was soon promoted to high first. I was then promoted to high second, then low third. Before the school years was out, I was promoted to high third where I caught up with others of my own age.

In fourth grade, our classroom was a converted hallway. We were outgrowing the school. When I was in sixth grade, we moved to the new school. Then at midterm our class entered junior high. Now our classes were in the basement of the old high school. We had crowding problems even then.

I entered high school midterm and could complete high school in either 3 ½ or 4 ½ years. There was no midterm graduation, so, I, along with others in my class, chose 3 ½ years. The first semester we doubled up on English and Algebra, dong a year’s work in one semester. Then we were assimilated into the regular class schedule.
During my high school years, Fillmore High School had a good football team and an outstanding basketball team which won the Southern California Conference. The same boys played both football and basketball.

Since I lived on the Montebello Oil Lease, I rode the bus to school. There were our bus routes: Bardsdale, Montebello, Piru and Sespe, but only two buses. The buses would go to Montebello and Sespe early. We arrived at school an hour early so we went to study hall of sometimes played tennis. After school we were the first bus to leave and were quickly returned to our homes. The Piru and Bardsdale students got to school just before the bell ran, but they had to hang around after school. A lot of time was spent on the lawn waiting for the bus, as no one was allowed to leave the school grounds to go to town.

Often on hot days, since there was no air conditioning, our teacher would hold classes outside on the lawn.
In the spring of 1928, before graduation, the seniors had a ditch day. We went to the pier at Santa Monica where I won a Mickey Mouse statue which I still have. This was one of the first Mickey Mouse statues in existence. It is made of wood and is about 4 inches tall.

Before graduation, there was a Junior-Senior banquet and a church service. The graduation was held in the high school auditorium with all the girls wearing white dresses. The class of 1928 was the largest class to date. There were 47 of us. We were a combination of students who graduated at 3 1/2, 4 and 4 ½ years of high school.

Often in the Flashbacks, a daisy arch is mentioned. Instead of the daisy arch, we had a flower march. Each senior had a flower girl, and at the conclusion of the ceremonies, the flower girls, arms loaded with flowers, would march to the stage and give the graduates the flowers. Friends and family saved flowers for their special graduate. When the March was finished, the stage was a mass of flowers with only the grads’ heads protruding. It was a wonderful and memorable sight!

Thank you Fillmore High for having a great Alumni Association.

Planting seeds for tomorrow, the non-profit California Strawberry Festival has awarded $6,000 in scholarships to deserving students throughout Ventura County, it was recently announced by Sumiko Kato, CSF board member and scholarship chairman of the Dr. Kato Scholarship Award Committee.

Giving back is a part of the Festival’s foundation and this year’s 28th annual celebration will take place the third weekend in May, the 21 and 22nd of 2011. Over the last three decades, nearly $30,000 has been donated through this memoriam scholarship named after the late Dr. Tsujio Kato, Oxnard’s former mayor who was instrumental in the creation of the heralded Festival celebration.

Deserving recipients included: Irene Dang of Oxnard High School: Jennifer Rodriguez of Pacifica High: Jingwei Zhou of Adolfo Camarillo High; Kenneth Joseph Lee of Rio Mesa High, and Vianney Cossyleon of Hueneme High School.
According to Festival Director Patrick Mullin, “Providing ways to assist the community beyond Festival weekend is an integral part of everything we do. By partnering with the California Strawberry Commission, we also help fund annual scholarships to children of strawberry farm works to show appreciation to those whose jobs play such a vital role in our strawberry industry’s success.”

Awards are based on merit and funding goes to high school seniors and also continuing college students. To date, programs have reached 264 students with awards exceeding $500,000. Additionally, a $25,000 endowment scholarship at California State University Channel Islands is completely Festival funded, offering another avenue of development for future generations.

More information about the California Strawberry Festival, now ranked tops in the nation, is available at www.strawberry-fest.org. With all-day entertainment, rides and attractions, contests, fabulous strawberry foods and arts & crafts, the fruitful celebration is a “must not miss.” General admission is $12, seniors 62+ are $8 and children ages 5-12 are $5. Kids 4 and under are free. Active military and dependents with ID are $8. Hours are 10:00a.m. to 6:30p.m. both days. Advance tickets can be purchased at www.strawberry-fest.org. The California
Strawberry Festival Information Line is 1 888 288-9242.

Oakland, Ca. - When it comes to winter flooding, there are two things that many homeowners should know about their risk. First, the dangers of severe weather and related flooding do not end when colder weather begins. Floods are a year-round hazard, and they can be especially dangerous in western states - including Arizona, California, and Nevada - due to recent wildfires and the upcoming rainy season.

Second, most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage, which resulted in an average claim of nearly $27,000 in 2009. In most cases, flood insurance made available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the only protection against the financial costs of flooding.

"Virtually every home and business owner faces some risk of flooding, which can stem from events as commonplace as broken sewer lines, slow moving rainstorms, or even a new real estate development that alters drainage patterns around a property," said Nancy Ward, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Region IX Administrator. "Everyone should have a flood preparedness checklist, and for many people, having flood insurance can be as important as having an emergency supply kit and knowing where to go if they need to evacuate."

Specific dangers facing western states during the 2010-2011 winter season include:

RISKS FROM HEAVY RAINFALL: Floods are CONTINUED »

Sandi Ward’s Train Stop was the festive and lively location of Soroptimist International of Fillmore’s Christmas party on Thursday, December 16th. Amidst the unique gifts and collectibles the ladies enjoyed a cozy, old-fashioned Christmas in the vintage train cars. Sandi Ward the owner has quite an array of packing crate labels, books, toys, ceramics and hand knit items. If you are a train fan you are sure to find something here. Sandi Ward’s Train Stop is located at 435D Santa Clara St. (on the train track in Central Park).Phone: 805.524.1752

Fillmore High Alumni Association

ATTENTION ALL FILLMORE HIGH ALUMNI MEMBERS!! A number of alumni members have received the following e-mail and the Fillmore High Alumni office wants everyone to know that it did not come from here. We do not do business this way, and the e-mail address that is given is not ours. It evidently is a way for someone to attempt to get money from people, so please do not respond to this message:

"FILLMORE ALUMNI: Our Fillmore Alumni site is not financially supported by the school. We are having our 2011 Membership Push to help cover costs. We're encouraging all members to upgrade to full access Lifetime Membership for a one-time fee of only $25 (normally $50) or become an annual supporter for $20 per year. Use the below link to upgrade today."

This is a good idea, and if we had everyone's e-mall address, we might try to contact alumni members this way, but we prefer to contact members about subscribing to the alumni newsletter, "Flashbacks"or becoming Life Members by way of the alumni website, the newsletter or by individual mailings. Also, our Life Memberships are not $25, but our annual subscription to the newsletter is $20. If anyone receives one of these bogus e-mails, please contact the alumni office at 805-524-0416 or staff@fillmorehighalumni.com. We hope no one has been scammed by this.

Individual and business taxpayers will no longer receive paper income tax packages in the mail from the IRS. These tax packages contained the forms, schedules and instructions for filing a paper income tax return.
"The IRS is taking this step due to the continued growth in e-filing, as well as to help reduce costs," said IRS Spokeswoman Anabel Marquez. "Only 8 percent of taxpayers who filed returns last year received tax packages in the mail."

In early October, the IRS sent a postcard to individuals who filed paper returns last year and did not use a tax preparer or tax software. The information explains how to get the tax forms and instructions they need for filing their tax year 2010 return. The forms and instructions will be available in early January 2011.
There are numerous free options available for taxpayers:

Taxpayers can still get the necessary forms and instructions online at IRS.gov, or by visiting local IRS offices or participating libraries and post offices.

Individuals making $49,000 or less can use the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for free tax preparation and, in many cases, free electronic filing.

Individuals aged 60 and older can take advantage of free tax counseling and basic income tax preparation through Tax Counseling for the Elderly.

IRS Free File provides options for free brand-name tax software or online fillable forms plus free electronic filing. Everyone can use Free File to prepare a federal tax return. Taxpayers who make $58,000 or less can choose from approximately 20 commercial software providers. There’s no income limit for Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms, which also has free e-filing.

In 2010 to date, more than 96 million individual tax returns were e-filed, and an estimated 20 million paper returns were filed through paid preparers.

The Ventura County Garden Club will begin its’ spring season with a meeting at 1 p.m., Wednesday, February 2, 2011. The meeting will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 117 7th Street, Santa Paula.

Steve Sprinkel of The Farmer and the Cook in Ojai will present a program on organic farming and cooking.

An elegant tea will follow. Guests are welcome to attend. Membership fees for the spring session which continues through June are $10. For more information, call Louise at 805-933-9918 or Carolyn at 805-524-1252.

At its regular meeting on January 12, 2011, United Water Conservation District’s Board of Directors re-elected its 2010 slate of officers to again lead the District in 2011. Staying on as United’s President is Robert Eranio of Ventura; as Vice-President is Daniel C. Naumann of Oxnard; and as Secretary/Treasurer is Lynn Maulhardt of Oxnard.

In accepting the presidency for 2011, Mr. Eranio stated, “I appreciate the trust that the rest of our Board has shown in re-electing me as its president for 2011. We have some big challenges in front of us over the coming year, and I intend to ensure that we continue to work toward resolutions that make the best long-term sense for our District.”

Mr. Eranio represents United’s Division 3, which includes a portion of the City of Ventura. He first served on the Board of Directors from December 1998 to November 2000, representing Division 2, and he returned to the Board to represent Division 3, in December 2002. He has worked in hands-on positions in the California water industry since 1986, and holds numerous professional certifications including, California Water Treatment Operator 5 license, California Water Distribution Operator 5 license, AWWA Cross-Connection Specialist, and is a consultant to various small mutual water companies specializing in daily operations, maintenance, and financial administration. Mr. Eranio has participated in many local water-related projects, including the City of Port Hueneme’s Urban Water Management Plan and Hazardous Waste Collection Events, the City of Oxnard’s GREAT Program, and numerous capital improvement projects for Crestview Mutual Water Company in Camarillo, where has been General Manager since 1995.

Mr. Naumann represents Division 6, the Pleasant Valley area of the District, to the south and east of Oxnard. He holds a B.S. degree in Agricultural Business from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He is a member of the board of the USDA Farm Service Agency, and he serves as an alternate for the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency. His family established farming operations on the Oxnard Plain in the 1890s, and he is currently farming various vegetable row crops. Mr. Naumann's uncle, Robert Naumann, served on United's Board in the 1950s. Continuing the family tradition, Mr. Naumann has been a member of the Board since 1991 and previously served as United’s Secretary/Treasurer in 1994-96 and 2008-2009. He also served as its Vice President in 1997-99 and as President in 2000-01.

Mr. Maulhardt represents Division 4, northeast of the City of Oxnard. His family has been farming since 1869, and he is a managing partner of a Ventura County farm. Mr. Maulhardt is active in community water activities and has served as chairman of Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency since 1987. He received a B.S. in Physics from Loyola University, Los Angeles, and a M.A. in Management and Human Relations from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Vietnam War Veteran and is a commercial airline pilot for a major U.S. airline. Mr. Maulhardt has been a member of the Board since 1985 and served as President from January 1987 to December 1993.

Also serving on United’s Board of Directors are:

• Sheldon G. Berger, Division 7 - representing portions of the City of Oxnard, the City of Port Hueneme, CBC Port Hueneme Navy Base and several unincorporated beach communities
• Bruce Dandy, Division 5 – representing Northwest Oxnard
• Roger E. Orr, Division 2 – representing the unincorporated area between Santa Paula and Ventura, the towns of Saticoy and El Rio, and portions of east Ventura.
• F.W. (Dick) Richardson, Division 1 - representing Piru, Fillmore and Santa Paula.

About UWCD
UWCD is a public water agency responsible for conserving and protecting groundwater resources in Ventura County. In addition to the district’s Lake Piru Recreation Area, United Water’s facilities include: Santa Felicia Dam; spreading grounds in Saticoy, El Rio and Piru; an agricultural water delivery system; a wholesale municipal water delivery system; and the Freeman Diversion facility. The district provides wholesale water to the City of Oxnard, the Port Hueneme Water Agency (which includes the CBC and Point Mugu naval bases), Pleasant Valley County Water District, and several small mutual water companies. A seven-member elected board of directors directs the district’s policy and activities.

SACRAMENTO, CA – While most people are working on their 2010 state tax returns, the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) today announced that it is contacting more than 900,000 people who did not file a 2009 state income tax return.

FTB finds nonfilers by using more than 400 million income records it receives each year from third parties such as the IRS, banks, employers, state departments, and other sources. In addition, FTB uses occupational licenses and mortgage interest payment information to detect others who may also have a requirement to file a state tax return. FTB then contacts those who earned California income, but did not file a return for the 2009 filing year.

Last year, FTB collected more than $550 million through these efforts.

Since the 1950s, FTB has contacted people who may have a filing requirement, but have not filed a tax return. Individuals contacted have 30 days to file their state tax return or show why one is not due. When a required return is not filed, FTB issues a tax assessment using income records to estimate the amount of state tax due. The assessment includes interest, fees, and penalties of up to 50 percent.

FTB provides more information for those receiving notices at ftb.ca.gov. From the home page, select the Bills and Notices tab, and then under the Tax Debt Section, select: Respond to request or demand for tax return. Taxpayerscan request more time to respond, retrieve information that can assist them in filing a tax return, request tax forms, learn about payment options, sign up to receive an email reminder to file, and access other services. Individuals can also call FTB at 866.204.7902 to get information.

The City of Thousand Oaks and the Thousand Oaks Police Department have a mutual interest with the community in ensuring that children reach their scholastic and personal growth potential. In today’s society, children are confronted by several obstacles, bad influences, and distractions. Raising children is not easy. Children sometimes engage in harmful behaviors fueled by negative influences including alcohol, gangs, and peer pressure.

In furtherance of our commitment to the community, the Thousand Oaks Police Department will be offering a parenting class on Monday evenings for ten weeks starting on January 24. Parents with difficult, defiant, or problematic children are encouraged to attend; however, all parents of middle and high school students will also benefit from this course. Our goal is to give parents guidance and to develop more successful children. We are excited to offer these sessions and truly wish to support parents and offer strategies to deal with difficult children.

The course content consists of ways to address drugs, sex, gangs, poor grades, runaways and violence. Additional content includes guidance in gaining children’s compliance of house rules, how to never argue with your child again, and how to use other parents for support. Additional information can be reviewed at www.parentproject.com. This course is subject to enrollment. Interested parents are asked to call Senior Deputy Sliva or Senior Deputy DeSoto for further information.

Location: Thousand Oaks Police Station
2101 East Olsen Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Date & Time: Monday January 24, 2011 thru Monday April 4, 2011
All classes begin at 6pm

Unit Responsible: Thousand Oaks Crime Prevention Bureau

Officer Preparing Release: Senior Deputy Jim DeSoto

Follow-up Contact: Dennis Sliva 805-494-8267
Jim DeSoto 805-371-8362

Approved by: Captain Bill Ayub

Date of Release: January 14, 2011

Dear Editor of the Fillmore Gazette:

At the Ventura Family YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. Every day, we work side-by-side with community members to address the most pressing needs in Ventura, Oxnard, Santa Paula and Ojai and make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. The Y has been a part of the community for 124 years, and our work in these areas has taught us that lasting personal and social change can only come about when we work together to invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. This begins with having full community support.

After her husband, Tom, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, Cherie Egbert felt her world was crumbling. In addition to the fear of losing her husband, the father of her year old son and twin six year old girls, she was overwhelmed by how her family’s finances would be affected. After cancelling any service the family could do without, the thought of no longer being a member of the Y brought Cherie to tears. It was then that she was encouraged by staff to pursue assistance from the Y.

Qualifying for a reduced rate, Cherie took her children to the Y as often as possible, to maintain her children’s mental and physical health as well as her own piece of mind. Cherie felt that the Y gave her family some normalcy despite the current crisis and gave her children a healthy means to continue excelling while Tom rested. Though it is still a long road to recovery for Tom, Cherie feels that the Y has given her family the strength and confidence to continue and believes that from her experience, the Y really does build strong families and communities.

The sobering reality is that there are many families like the Egberts who could desperately use a helping hand through challenging times. This is why we are launching our Campaign For Youth and Families. The campaign provides support for underprivileged kids to have a safe place to learn and build confidence after school; for struggling families to reconnect and grow together and for seniors in need to have access to arthritis classes and a healthy social environment; allowing each to reach their full potential.

We encourage everyone in the community to join our cause. When we all pitch in to help our neighbors, we make a meaningful, enduring impact in the lives of children and families and ultimately, strengthen our community.

To learn how you can support Campaign for Youth and Families or volunteer at the Ventura Family YMCA, please contact Amy Bailey Jurewicz by telephone at 805 642 2131 ext. 24 or by email at Amy.Bailey@ciymca.org.

Fillmore Ebell Club is starting the year off with an exciting and special presentation of "Eight Centuries of Music" with three very talented artists. Virginia Kron has a Master's degree and a prize in performance from USC as a Cellist. Playing as a soloist with the New West Symphony and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. She also teaches as a Cello instructor at Ventura College.

Jennifer Sayre performs as a soloist and ensemble musician throughout the United States and Europe. She has played as a soloist at the Lincoln Center in Washington DC. She has bachelor and master degrees in harp performance from Eastman School of Music and also played in several Symphony Orchestras and the Rochester Philharmonic. She currently is on the music faculty at Cal Poly University.

Soprano, Mary Rawcliff has sung music of eight centuries, appearing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony and many other orchestras. She has taught voice for over ten years at Cal Poly University and recently retired after thirteen years on the faculty of the University of Southern California.

If you love great music please call for a reservation by Friday Jan 21st to Lavonne Deeter at 524-2090 . Our program meeting starts with lunch at 12:30 catered by Dustin Anderson and the program starts at 1:45pm. Cost for lunch and program is $12.00, Program only is $10.00

Our meeting is located at the Fillmore Memorial Building, 511 Second Street. If you are interested in becoming a member please call Melodie Stitch 551-4771.

Fillmore Ebell-Providing Arts And Entertainment For Your Pleasure.

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On LATE Friday night & Saturday night, "@radical.media" was shooting a Dodge Super bowl commercial. The shoot featured numerous background actors scurrying around town during a blizzard. Meanwhile, the all wheel drive Dodge vehicles are shown driving effortlessly through the snow...

The second show that is shooting today (1/10/2011) is the TV show "Justified" that airs on the FX network. The prep work for this show included rebuilding the interior of the vacant bank building on the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue into a beautiful bank. Additionally, a bomb threat and coal miners strike was depicted at the steps of City Hall.

In case you haven't noticed, filming has been relatively active lately in Fillmore. It would be awesome if you could put a few lines within your story/cut lines reminding residents to please be patient during these activities. Filming not only provides Fillmore great exposure to the outside world... It also provides local property owners and businesses to benefit from the extra revenue generated by the activity.

Fillmore-area Curves locations ring in New Year with new Curves Circuit with Zumba Fitness® classes; Fillmore-area residents can try it free for a week

Hold on to your sports bras –Curves® Circuit with Zumba Fitness® is here! Millions have lost weight and shaped up with Curves, the leader in women’s fitness, and Zumba, the dance-fitness experts. Now, the two have created the only 30-minute class that mixes the moves of Zumba with the proven strength training of Curves for one wildly effective workout. It’s definitely NOT your Mother’s workout—BUT even your Mother can do it!

Some have called it the perfect workout, but Curves gyms in the Fillmore area are willing to let you try it free for a week to find out for yourself.

"Curves Circuit with Zumba Fitness is an amazing workout that will really help people stick to their New Year’s resolutions,” said Curves Director of Exercise and Research, Katie Mitchell. “It combines Curves’ proven strength-training program—where you can burn up to 500 calories in just 30 minutes—with the Latin and international inspired music and exhilarating, simple dance moves that have made Zumba so popular. We want you to experience it for yourself to see what an incredible workout it is, so we’re inviting Fillmore-area residents to try it free for one week.”

The benefits of Curves CONTINUED »